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Political Science

Ilmu Politik

Study power, the state, public policy, political institutions, political behavior, and the relationship between government and society.

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Level S1 · 4 years
Market demand Stable, growing
Mid salary Rp 8–15 million /mo
01

Big Picture

DATA

Analyzes political processes, state institutions, public policy, voter behavior, democracy, and power relations at local, national, and global levels.

Core courses

  • ›Introduction to Political Science
  • ›Political Theory
  • ›Indonesian Political System
  • ›Public Policy
  • ›Social Research Methodology
  • ›Comparative Politics
  • ›International Politics
  • ›Political Behavior
WHO THIS FITS

Good fit if you enjoy reading public issues, evaluating arguments from multiple angles, writing analyses, engaging in data-driven discussions, and following developments in government and society.

Education levels

how does it differ from other levels?
S2
Master's deepens theory, methodology, and specialized fields like democracy, civic politics, digital politics, or policy. Duration typically 2 years; graduates directed toward analysts, policy managers, senior professionals, or researchers.
S3
Doctorate focuses on independent research and new knowledge contribution via dissertation. Duration typically 3–5 years; outcomes primarily for researcher, academic, or policy expert careers.

Often confused with…

what's the difference?
vsIlmu Pemerintahan (Government Science)
Ilmu Politik (Political Science) broadly examines power, conflict, parties, elections, and political behavior; Ilmu Pemerintahan focuses more on governance and public administration.
vsAdministrasi Publik (Public Administration)
Ilmu Politics analyzes the struggle and use of power and policy processes; Administrasi Publik emphasizes governance and delivery of government services.
vsHubungan Internasional (International Relations)
Ilmu Politik covers domestic and comparative politics; Hubungan Internasional focuses on interstate relations, international organizations, and global issues.
vsIlmu Komunikasi (Communication Studies)
Ilmu Politik centers study on power and political institutions; Ilmu Komunikasi centers study on communication processes, media, and strategy.

Myth vs Fact

MYTH Graduates can only become political party members.
FACT Graduates also work in policy research, survey institutions, civil society organizations, media, consulting, government, and external relations.
MYTH Studying Ilmu Politik consists only of opinion debates.
FACT Learning also uses theory, research methods, data analysis, academic writing, and policy evaluation.
MYTH No quantitative skills needed.
FACT Ability to read statistics, surveys, and social data aids political analysis, though depth depends on curriculum.
02

Toolkit & Prep

GUIDE

Personal hardware & software you need to prepare before classes start — requirements vary by program. Expensive, heavy-duty equipment is usually provided by the campus.

MINIMUM LAPTOP SPEC

Laptop with 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, a recent Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 equivalent processor, a webcam, and a stable internet connection. 16 GB of RAM helps if you frequently process survey datasets.

ESTIMATED STARTUP BUDGET
Rp 5–10 million

A one-time purchase that lasts through your studies.

Laptop
Used for reading literature, writing, presentations, and basic data analysis.
Required
Document processing software
Use legal software or free alternatives for assignments and reports.
Required
Spreadsheet software
Useful for tabulating survey and social data.
Required
Statistical analysis software
Needed if assignments or research involve more advanced statistical analysis.
Optional
Cloud storage
Helpful for backing up articles, datasets, and assignments.
Optional
03

Facility Checklist

GUIDE

Questions specific to Political Science to bring to an open house or campus visit. Important facilities vary by program — these matter most.

Note: Myjor doesn't maintain a facilities database per campus. This is a tool for you to assess it yourself.

Is there a reading room with an up-to-date collection of political science books, journals, and databases?
Do students get access to data analysis software or survey analysis training?
Are there discussion rooms that support mock trials, policy debates, or research presentations?
How do students access government data, election data, and policy archives for research assignments?
Does the campus provide methodological support for fieldwork and surveys?
Is there a career center or unit that helps find internships at public institutions and civil society organizations?
Ask for a list of facilities and services students can actually use, not just those listed in a brochure.

Tip: ask for a tour of the relevant labs/studios, not just the main building. Ask about access hours and whether undergrads can use the equipment.

04

Academic Quality

GUIDE

Three objective ways to assess a program's academic quality — including how to check them yourself.

A

Program accreditation status

Check the program's own accreditation rating (not just the campus's) on official sites. International accreditation is a plus for certain fields.

Unggul / A — top tier Baik Sekali / B Baik / C

Check at: BAN-PT (banpt.or.id) or the relevant LAM, & PDDIKTI (pddikti.kemdikbud.go.id).

B

Student–faculty ratio & how to calculate it

ratio = active students ÷ full-time faculty
Example: 600 students ÷ 25 faculty = 1 : 24
✓Ideal: ≈1:20 for STEM/science fields, ≈1:30 for social sciences/humanities (per Ministry of Education guidance).
!The smaller the second number, the more attention each student gets. Above 1:40 is worth flagging.
!Also check faculty qualifications (Master's/PhD) and whether there are industry practitioner lecturers.
C

Faculty research — relevant & current?

Look up faculty profiles and publications (Google Scholar / SINTA). For Political Science, look for those researching currently relevant topics:

Democracy and election qualityPolitical parties and voter behaviorPublic policy and its implementationLocal politics and decentralizationGovernanceIdentity politics and social conflictSocial movements and civil societyDigital politics and disinformationLegislative–executive relationsIndonesian foreign policySurvey methodology and public opinionSocial justice and political representation

E.g., is there faculty researching AI, or cancer-related topics? Active research topics signal the program keeps up with the field.

ASK AT THE OPEN HOUSE

"What's this program's student–faculty ratio? What research topics are faculty currently working on? What percentage of graduates find field-relevant jobs within 6 months?"

05

Partnerships

GUIDE

Campus partnerships heavily shape internship, research, and career paths. Which partners matter varies by program — here's what's relevant for Political Science.

Government agency
Ask about internship opportunities, data access, policy projects, and the actual number of students accepted each year.
Survey and policy research institute
Ask about internship pathways, research training, student involvement in surveys, and the form of performance evaluation.
Civil society organization
Ask about advocacy projects, field research, community work, and mentorship provided by the partner.
Media and research institute
Ask about research internship opportunities, analytical writing, issue monitoring, and data-driven content production.
Political party or legislative body
Ask about ethical boundaries, the format of internships, learning access, and whether the partnership is still active.
Joint research institution
Ask for a list of active MoUs, not just logos on a brochure; ask how many students are placed each year.

Ask for a list of official partners with active MoUs — not just logos in a brochure. Ask how many students are actually placed each year.

06

Career & Salary

DATA
Entry
0–2 years
Rp 5–8 million
per month
Mid
3–6 years
Rp 8–15 million
per month
Senior
7+ years
Rp 15–30 million
per month
Career pathsSalary range /mo
Policy analyst Rp 6–15 million
Research analyst Rp 5–12 million
Government relations officer Rp 7–18 million
Public affairs specialist Rp 7–18 million
Research institute researcher Rp 5–15 million
Civil society organization program officer Rp 5–14 million
Legislative analyst Rp 6–15 million
Policy consultant Rp 8–25 million

Sources: Myjor 2024 industry salary survey (n=4,200), BPS, and job portals. Figures are medians, influenced by city, company, and experience.

Sources & References

The career & salary data above traces back to its sources. Click to expand/collapse the source list.

06 · Career & Salary (4 sources)